from: the formerly christianmusic.about.com
author: Robin Parrish
website: http://christianmusic.about.com
             (Now with new content!)

»» Newsboys
Love Liberty Disco

Somebody's been spending a little too much time in the company of the BeeGees, I think.

Don't let that cover photo fool you -- this is not a rock album. This is straight-up retro, baby. We're talking back in the day that polyester was hip, pantsuits were all the rage, and white vinyl belts went with everything. Yes, the latest entry from the Newsboys is a (dare I say it?) disco album. Brace yourselves sports fans, because we've just taken a left turn into the surreal.

To be honest, I'm not quite sure what to make of this album. It would have been fun as a tongue-in-cheek kind of thing, but the band takes this sound very seriously, which really left me scratching my head. Instead of the multi-layered programmed rhythms found on their last album, Step Up to the Microphone, the band has reverted to the more organic, "live" sounds of 1996's Take Me to Your Leader. According to the band, this was an attempt to record more of their live concert experience-type sound.

The band describes this album as something that "just happened," something that just grew organically out of their time in the studio this go 'round. Bassist Phil Joel says, "I think we just wanted to make a bigger and better and bolder and more beautiful record than ever before." Hence, the scaled down production, the orchestration present on every song, and their high-pitched, Beegees type singing. They may not have intended to make a disco record, but that was definitely the result.

To be fair, there are some tracks that don't sound terribly disco-like. "Forever Man" sounds like something that could easily have fit into Step Up, and "Good Stuff" is vintage Newsboys fun. But nearly every other song lends itself to this disco flavor. On the other hand, lyrically, the group has truly bettered itself. Who else but the Newsboys could turn disco into a concept of "something that really unites us all."

Top Picks: "Good Stuff," "Love Liberty Disco," and "Break."

Pros: I always like it when artists try new things, so they get an A for effort, if nothing else. Their upcoming spring tour with their own inflatable dome arena that is carried from venue to venue sounds like genuine fun and quite a spectacle.

Cons: It's all a little too retro for my tastes. I'm not sure how they could have topped the triumph that was Step Up to the Microphone, but this isn't it.

The Verdict: The Newsboys have flung themselves with total abandon into something that could not be more unexpected. I'm sure many fans out there will revel in its fun atmosphere, and yesteryear sounds. But I'm not one of them. Better luck next time.

Robin's rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

--Robin Parrish ««